Peugeot Withdrawal Reaction

Factory backed Peugeots will not be present at major road races in 2012. (Photo courtesy of the American Le Mans Series)

RacinToday.com

Officials at French automaker Peugeot announced Wednesday that their company will not compete at the LMP1 level of road racing this year.

They cited economic conditions for their decisions.

The company has sent a couple of factory-backed cars to American Le Mans Series sponsored by Patron events at American tracks like Sebring and Road Atlanta the past several years.

It was believed they would do so again this year.

ALMS president and CEO Scott Atherton issued the following statement:

“While the announcement of Peugeot ending its factory participation in endurance racing comes as a real disappointment, it will take little – if any – luster off the spectacle of the 60th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida. Taking into account the start of our 14th season and the debut of the FIA World Endurance Championship, it still promises to be one of North America’s most epic events by all measures. There will still be a plethora of new cars, teams and manufacturers represented on the grid with plenty of entertainment available at the circuit. When we say Sebring is an event not to be missed, we mean it in the truest of ways.

“Likewise the news today should not diminish the remarkable achievements that Peugeot accomplished in its return to factory prototype competition. Its clashes with Audi at Le Mans and in particular in the American Le Mans Series provided fantastic competition and drama on sports car racing’s largest stages. Peugeot made quite an impact in sports car endurance racing and it is our hope to once again welcome them back as a competitor in the future.”